{{tnr}}'''Don Pridemore''' (b. October 20, 1946) is a [[Republican Party|Republican]] member of the [[Wisconsin State Assembly]], representing District 22 since 2013. He represented the 99th District from 2005 to 2013.

{{tnr}}'''Don Pridemore''' (b. October 20, 1946) is a [[Republican Party|Republican]] member of the [[Wisconsin State Assembly]], representing District 22 since 2013. He represented the 99th District from 2005 to 2013.

−

Pridemore is currently seeking election to the nonpartisan state executive office of [[Wisconsin Superintendent of Public Instruction]]. He will face incumbent [[Tony Evers]] in the general election on April 2, 2013.

+

Pridemore ran for the nonpartisan state executive office of [[Wisconsin Superintendent of Public Instruction]] in 2013. He was defeated by incumbent [[Tony Evers]] in the general election on April 2, 2013.<ref name=results13>[http://www.jsonline.com/news/statepolitics/wisconsin-april-2-spring-election-results-201117611.html#_Supt._of_Public_Instruction ''Milwaukee Journal Sentinel,'' "Wisconsin April 2 election results," accessed April 3, 2013]</ref>

==Biography==

==Biography==

Line 82:

Line 80:

|Chair3 = Chair

|Chair3 = Chair

|Committee4 = Veterans

|Committee4 = Veterans

−

|Committee5 =

+

|Committee5 = Workforce Development

}}

}}

Line 118:

Line 116:

==Elections==

==Elections==

+

===2017===

+

Following his loss in the 2013 race for [[Wisconsin Superintendent of Public Instruction]], Pridemore announced he would consider running again for the position in 2017 if no other conservatives step up.<ref> [http://gopconvos.wispolitics.com/2013/05/pridemore-still-open-to-another-dpi-run.html ''WisPolitics,'' "Pridemore still open to another DPI run in 2017," May 4, 2013]</ref>

Pridemore is a candidate for the non-partisan statewide position of [[Wisconsin Superintendent of Public Instruction]] in 2013.<ref>[http://gab.wi.gov/sites/default/files /page/candidates_registered_4_2_2013_spring_election_1__81844.PDF ''Wisconsin Government Accountability Board,'' "Candidate List-Spring 2013 Elections," accessed January 2, 2013]</ref> The incumbent, [[Tony Evers]], is running for re-election. Unlike previous elections where multiple individuals filed to run, Pridemore was the only challenger to submit the necessary signatures required to appear on the ballot before the<ref>[http://gab.wi.gov/sites/default/files/page/candidates_registered_4_2_2013_spring_election_1__72119.PDF ''Wisconsin Government Accountability Board,'' "Candidate List-Spring 2013 Elections," accessed January 2, 2013]</ref> <ref name=greenbay/>filing deadline passed on January 2, 2013<ref name=greenbay>[http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/viewart/20130104/GPG0101/301040214/State-superintendent-Supreme-Court-justice-will-face-challenges ''Green Bay Press Gazette,'' "State Superintendent Supreme Court Justice will face challenges," Accessed January 8, 2013]</ref>, thus negating the need for the scheduled [[Wisconsin state executive official elections, 2013|February 19, 2013]] primary election. Evers and Pridemore, a [[Republican]] member of the [[Wisconsin House of Representatives|State House]] since 2005, will instead face off in the general election on April 2, 2013.<ref>[http://wtaq.com/news/articles/2013/jan/03/state-public-school-superintendent-candidates-take-jabs-at-each-other/ ''WTAQ,'' "State public school superintendent candidates take jabs at each other," Accessed January 8, 2013]</ref>

+

Pridemore was a 2013 candidate for the non-partisan statewide position of [[Wisconsin Superintendent of Public Instruction]].<ref>[http://gab.wi.gov/sites/default/files /page/candidates_registered_4_2_2013_spring_election_1__81844.PDF ''Wisconsin Government Accountability Board,'' "Candidate List-Spring 2013 Elections," accessed January 2, 2013]</ref> The incumbent, [[Tony Evers]], is running for re-election. Unlike previous elections where multiple individuals filed to run, Pridemore was the only challenger to submit the necessary signatures required to appear on the ballot before the<ref>[http://gab.wi.gov/sites/default/files/page/candidates_registered_4_2_2013_spring_election_1__72119.PDF ''Wisconsin Government Accountability Board,'' "Candidate List-Spring 2013 Elections," accessed January 2, 2013]</ref> <ref name=greenbay/>filing deadline passed on January 2, 2013<ref name=greenbay>[http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/viewart/20130104/GPG0101/301040214/State-superintendent-Supreme-Court-justice-will-face-challenges ''Green Bay Press Gazette,'' "State Superintendent Supreme Court Justice will face challenges," Accessed January 8, 2013]</ref>, thus negating the need for the scheduled [[Wisconsin state executive official elections, 2013|February 19, 2013]] primary election. Evers and Pridemore, a [[Republican]] member of the [[Wisconsin House of Representatives|State House]] since 2005, instead faced off in the general election on April 2, 2013, which Evers won.<ref>[http://wtaq.com/news/articles/2013/jan/03/state-public-school-superintendent-candidates-take-jabs-at-each-other/ ''WTAQ,'' "State public school superintendent candidates take jabs at each other," Accessed January 8, 2013]</ref>

+

*'''General election'''

+

{{WIGeneralSuper2013Results}}

===Issues===

===Issues===

====Campaign themes====

====Campaign themes====

Line 144:

Line 147:

With less than three weeks to go until the election, incumbent [[Wisconsin Superintendent of Public Instruction|state superintendent]] [[Tony Evers]] and Pridemore faced off on March 13, 2013 at a meeting of the Wisconsin Association of School Boards in Madison. The race, which is non-partisan, had focused on education proposals put forth by Gov. [[Scott Walker]] (R) in his [[Wisconsin governor releases 2013-2015 budget, makes income tax cuts top priority|budget plan]].<ref> [http://walworthcountytoday.com/news/2013/mar/12/wisconsin-superintendent-candidates-debate/ ''Walworth County Today,'' "Wisconsin superintendent candidates to debate," March 12, 2013] </ref>

With less than three weeks to go until the election, incumbent [[Wisconsin Superintendent of Public Instruction|state superintendent]] [[Tony Evers]] and Pridemore faced off on March 13, 2013 at a meeting of the Wisconsin Association of School Boards in Madison. The race, which is non-partisan, had focused on education proposals put forth by Gov. [[Scott Walker]] (R) in his [[Wisconsin governor releases 2013-2015 budget, makes income tax cuts top priority|budget plan]].<ref> [http://walworthcountytoday.com/news/2013/mar/12/wisconsin-superintendent-candidates-debate/ ''Walworth County Today,'' "Wisconsin superintendent candidates to debate," March 12, 2013] </ref>

−

Pridemore supports Walker's plan to expand the use of vouchers in the state while not increasing public school spending. Meanwhile Evans, who was first elected in 2009, opposes both measures and wants to increase spending by $225 per student.<ref> [http://www.twincities.com/politics/ci_22784343/wisconsin-evers-pridemore-clash-education-superintendent-debate '' Twin Cities,'' "Wisconsin: Evers, Pridemore clash in education superintendent debate," March 13, 2013] </ref>

+

Pridemore supports Walker's plan to expand the use of vouchers in the state while not increasing public school spending. Meanwhile Evers, who was first elected in 2009, opposes both measures and wants to increase spending by $225 per student.<ref> [http://www.twincities.com/politics/ci_22784343/wisconsin-evers-pridemore-clash-education-superintendent-debate '' Twin Cities,'' "Wisconsin: Evers, Pridemore clash in education superintendent debate," March 13, 2013] </ref>

Pridemore said budgets are tight and schools should not expect more money. "A lot of these common core standards really started with international standards. Now, why should we be beholden to some worldwide organization that's just trying to dumb down America," he stated.<ref> [http://www.wxow.com/story/21634910/evers-pridemore-to-debate-in-superintendent-race ''WXOW,'' "Evers, Pridemore clash in superintendent debate," March 13, 2013] </ref>

Pridemore said budgets are tight and schools should not expect more money. "A lot of these common core standards really started with international standards. Now, why should we be beholden to some worldwide organization that's just trying to dumb down America," he stated.<ref> [http://www.wxow.com/story/21634910/evers-pridemore-to-debate-in-superintendent-race ''WXOW,'' "Evers, Pridemore clash in superintendent debate," March 13, 2013] </ref>

In 2010, Pridemore received $18,883 in campaign donations. The top contributors are listed below.<ref>[http://www.followthemoney.org/database/StateGlance/state_candidates.phtml?s=WI&y=2010&f=H&so=O#sorttable Follow the Money - 2010 contributions]</ref>

Biography

Pridemore served in the United State Air Force and has worked as an electronics design engineer, electronics research technician, and senior electronics project engineer. He holds a degree in electrical engineering from Marquette University.[2]

He is a member of the Erin Park Board, American Legion, Hartford Lions, Hartford Area Taxpayers Association, National Rifle Association (NRA), Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), Washington County Republican Party, and Waukesha County Republican Party.[3]

Education

Bachelor's of Science in Electrical Engineering - Marquette University

Committee assignments

2013-2014

At the beginning of the 2013 legislative session, Pridemore served on the following committees:

2013

Pridemore was a 2013 candidate for the non-partisan statewide position of Wisconsin Superintendent of Public Instruction.[5] The incumbent, Tony Evers, is running for re-election. Unlike previous elections where multiple individuals filed to run, Pridemore was the only challenger to submit the necessary signatures required to appear on the ballot before the[6][7]filing deadline passed on January 2, 2013[7], thus negating the need for the scheduled February 19, 2013 primary election. Evers and Pridemore, a Republican member of the State House since 2005, instead faced off in the general election on April 2, 2013, which Evers won.[8]

Issues

Campaign themes

Pridemore's priorities for the Department of Public Instruction, if elected, include empowering local school boards and administrators to supersede teachers unions as the controlling forces behind state public schools, with the help of Act 10, and placing more emphasis on public schools and conservative style teaching, instead of "choice" schools, or charter schools, to meet the demands of the real world labor force. “There are so many jobs available where the kids coming out of tech schools and high schools don’t have the skills that match those jobs,” he said. “We need to make more connection with the actual world,” he told the Portage Daily Register in March 2013.[9]

"It is time to get the power and the money out of Madison and back to the local schools. We spend over 500 million dollars per year on special programs. School districts should be allowed to spend that money where they decide it would be most beneficial."

School Boards:

“School boards should be given the freedom to hire or allow a competent, well trained school official or employee who is experienced with returning force whenever force is required. Police officers, either retired or still on duty, who are trained to respond to school safety situations are the best example of such a qualified person."

Virtual Schools:

"There can be no doubt that online learning presents the greatest opportunity to take education to the next level for all Americans. Access to specialized instruction that was out of reach 10 years ago is now only a click of the mouse away. We must allow technology and education to come together."

Debates

With less than three weeks to go until the election, incumbent state superintendentTony Evers and Pridemore faced off on March 13, 2013 at a meeting of the Wisconsin Association of School Boards in Madison. The race, which is non-partisan, had focused on education proposals put forth by Gov. Scott Walker (R) in his budget plan.[11]

Pridemore supports Walker's plan to expand the use of vouchers in the state while not increasing public school spending. Meanwhile Evers, who was first elected in 2009, opposes both measures and wants to increase spending by $225 per student.[12]

Pridemore said budgets are tight and schools should not expect more money. "A lot of these common core standards really started with international standards. Now, why should we be beholden to some worldwide organization that's just trying to dumb down America," he stated.[13]

Regarding school safety, Pridemore proposed allowing schools to have armed volunteers to provide security, which Evers said risks turning schools into the "wild west." While presenting a stark contrast in most of their views, the two did agree in their opposition to Walker's proposal to create a separate school board to oversee charter schools.[14]

Money in the campaign

On March 25, 2013, one week before the election, The Associated Press reported that incumbent Tony Evers' re-campaign had spent almost $210,000 since January, and will end the campaign with about $40,000 cash on hand.[15] These figures reflect the most recent campaign finance reports filed by the candidates' committees with the Wisconsin Government Accountability Board. The latest report lists contributions and spending from Jan 1-March 18. According to the AP report, Pridemore's last filing, covering Jan. 1-Feb 4., showed him spending under $20,000, a significantly lower sum than his opponent. However the lion's share of Evers' spending occurred between Feb. 5 and March 18, therefore it is difficult to assess the candidates' comparative financial standing heading into the April 2 election without Pridemore's updated financial summary. The report also said Pridemore raised $2,400 and had $33,400 on hand as of Feb. 4, 2013.

Controversies

Blacklisted reporters

On March 17, 2013, the Associated Press reported on the existence of a memo from Pridemore's campaign containing the names of five members of the press who had been blacklisted, along with their affiliated media outlets, for exhibiting what Pridemore considers "liberal bias." The memo was turned over to the AP by one of the blacklisted reporters, Jack Craver, from The Capital Times. The memos said: "If the reporter requests an interview, they must submit their questions in a written form and they will receive a written response to only those questions we want to respond to. These are all LIBERAL's and have chosen to parse words, phrases and spin my responses to fit their agendas. If they continue to spin our written responses, they will be ignored in the future." It further instructed that campaign staffers record and track all interactions with blacklisted reporters on a spreadsheet. The memo did not provide specific examples for the biased reporting that led to Craver's and the others' shunning by the campaign.[16]

AB-359 Married couple with Wisconsin adjusted gross income under certain amount: refundable individual income tax credit created

For a full listing of sponsored legislation and details see the House site.

Campaign donors

Comprehensive donor information for Pridemore is available dating back to 2004. Based on available campaign finance records, Pridemore raised a total of $119,747 during that time period. This information was last updated on June 5, 2013.[20]